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Baker County Press
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Friday, March 18, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 12
Cattlemen pledge $10K to
fight Owyhee Monument
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Between 30 and 40
people attended a special
Baker County Livestock
Association (BCLA) meet-
ing at the Sunridge Inn
Restaurant, on Wednesday,
March 9, 2016, including
Representative Cliff Bentz,
and Senator Ted Ferrioli
via telephone, in support of
a singular goal: to oppose
the proposed 2.5 million
acre Owyhee Canyonlands
National Monument desig-
nation.
The group hopes to
convince Oregonians,
including Governor Kate
Brown, and ultimately,
President Barack Obama,
that the designation would
be a devastating blow for
Malheur County and the
State.
Attending the meet-
ing and giving a special
presentation were Ysabel
Bilbao of Gallatin Public
Affairs, and Elias Eiguren,
Steve Russell, and Mark
Joyce, of the Owyhee Ba-
sin Stewardship Coalition
(OBSC). OSBC, whose
mission is “advocating for
Natural Resource Indus-
tries in Malheur County,”
hired Gallatin to lead the
opposition effort.
BCLA President Jake
Bingham was also joined
by Wannie Mackenzie,
Drew Martin, Dotty and
Myron Miles, Curt and
Cheryl Martin, Ed Trindle,
Martin Arritola, Ralph
and Myrna Morgan, Bill
and Lorrie Harvey, Kody
Justus, Bruce Nichols,
and Wes Morgan, among
others.
The meeting was called
to order by Bingham, fol-
lowed by reading of the
minutes, from the February
25, 2016 monthly meeting,
by Dotty. The minutes
were approved.
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
L-R: Drew Martin and Jake Bingham were among
those who voted to fi ght the Owyhee land grab.
SEE
OWYHEE MONUMENT
PAGE 3
Donkey basketball
Semi crash
comes back to Halfway kills one
Photo courtesy of Carl Dedrick.
I-84 was shut down Tuesday afternoon from
Pendleton to Ontario in both directions after two
serious accidents.
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Smith.
Teachers (in red) Jason Jordan Smith (back) and Cammie DeCastro squared off against the students at
Pine Eagle Charter School as the fi rst donkey basketball game in years was held in the gym.
BY CARMELITA HOLLAND
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
A heavy rain storm in Pine Valley failed to prevent
many families in the Panhandle of Baker County from
coming to enjoy the Donkey Basketball game the evening
of March 11, held in the gymnasium of Pine Eagle Char-
ter School.
It has been several years since the Donkey Basketball
team has come to Halfway, but its reputation was attrac-
tion enough to fi ll most of the bleachers.
The man who brought the nine donkeys from their
home at a ranch near Entiat, Washington, who identifi ed
himself as “Charley, the Referee,” said they work the
donkeys only two months a year.
“The rest of the year, they eat,” he said.
“We’ve had this service going for seventeen years, but
have not used the same donkeys. They live longer than
horses do, but we use them only between the ages of
fi ve and twelve years of age. After they grow older than
twelve they get too smart.”
“It’s my job to keep everybody from getting hurt,” he
said.
During the game Charley was on the fl oor on foot,
moving about with the players, carrying a small, long
stick. Referring to fl at pads on each donkey, instead of
saddles,
Charley said, “Those packs are designed to protect the
Friday
Sunny and seasonal. Highs near 50. Mostly
clear at night with a few clouds possible. Lows
near 30.
Saturday
Mostly sunny and warmer. Highs in the mid 50s.
Partly cloudy and more mild at night. Lows in
the mid 30s.
Sunday
Partly sunny with a chance for rain showers.
Chance of rain is 40%. Highs in the upper 50s.
Lows near freezing at night.
backs of the donkeys, not the butts of the riders!”
“We play with four people on donkeys and one on the
fl oor in the center—that makes fi ve players, the usual
number in a basketball team,” he explained.
The donkeys were marched inside the gym wearing
special heavy, rubber horse shoes to prevent damage to
expensive hardwood fl oors.
All contestants wore helmets.
Both students and adults laughed, cheered and
clapped hands watching teachers struggling to mount, and
stay on donkeys without the usual convenience of having
stirrups. Each person had only two straps to hold to,
four inches wide, one wrapped tightly around each end
of a bare back pack (no saddles) and around the bellies of
each donkey.
There were four teams: Firemen vs. Idaho Power
Company, and teachers/staff vs. students. Receiving the
greatest attention were teachers Camie DeCastro, Chris
Decastro, Morgan Gover, Jason Jordan Smith, and Troy
Tubbs with staff member Angie Chetwood.
Local referees were Nick Melchior, Tallon Vandimier,
Dalton Robinet, Jacob Huff,
When anyone astride a donkey threw a basketball, that
went through the hoop the crowd went wild.
Said Smith’s wife Rebecca, “It was a fun and unique
family event. The kids loved petting the donkeys between
games. I had friends who couldn’t believe there was such
a thing as donkey basketball. Loved it!”
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
On March 15, 2016 at about 11:25 a.m., Oregon State
Police Troopers (OSP) and emergency crews were dis-
patched to a rollover crash involving a commercial motor
vehicle on Interstate 84, milepost 349 eastbound.
At 11:55 a.m., as emergency personnel were respond-
ing to the scene, a second crash involving two commer-
cial motor vehicles, occurred at milepost 348 eastbound,
killing a driver.
Preliminary information indicates that at 11:25 a.m.,
a 2006 Freightliner pulling a 2010 Utility semi-trailer,
operated by Ivan Berezin, age 34, from Gresham, was
traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 at milepost 349
when for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the
roadway into the median.
The vehicle traveled back onto the roadway and over-
turned blocking both eastbound lanes.
SEE CRASH PAGE 5
Johnston
sentenced
• WOMAN GETS JAIL, COMMUNITY
SERVICE AND PROBATION FOR FLINGING
TAMPON DURING ARREST
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On March 9, 2016, a 12-person Baker County Circuit
Court Jury convicted Marlene Frances Johnston of one
count of Aggravated Harassment, a Class C Felony, with
a vote of 11-1.
The State was represented by Baker County District
Attorney Matt Shirtcliff, and Johnston was represented by
Steve Joseph from La Grande.
SEE JOHNSTON PAGE 5
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Main Event Tavern burglarized
Capa’s handler transition smooth
OTEC Board holds coffee
Promise Student honored
County Commissioners coverage
Leo Adler grants given
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